Feminism in a Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle

In the 1962 novel, “A Wrinkle in Time,” Madeleine L'Engle challenges the definition of masculinity and femininity through her characters, her genre, and the roles she gave to the individuals throughout the plot. Initially, I noticed that L’Engle implements a rather generous amount of females in this novel. Compared to other science fiction novels, this is rarely the case due to the knowledge and mind-set the main character is intended to have. For example, not only does she directs all the attention of the reader towards Meg Murry, an ordinary girl, but she gives Ms.Murry the mind of an intellect. Meg doesn’t fit in the feminine category as she is consumed with the study of science and math, rather than homemaking and spending money on clothing and accessories. Due to her different nature, Meg gains the feeling of being an outcast and trapped in her thoughts. Meg’s mother is also a character who doesn’t follow what it means to be feminine because she was “a mother who was a scientist and a beauty as well.” She wasn’t the sort of female who listened to her companion or stayed at home and did daily chores. Not to mention, with Mrs.Murry being a scientist, she was another being who earned money, but in the 1960s, men were the only ones known to make income for the household.

Throughout the novel, L'Engle seemed to undermine and reinforce the idea of gender stereotyping. She undermined because she tended to have a female protagonist as the main focus for the reader. This is a rare sighting because Meg, being the protagonist, saved the day and took heroic action, while a male figure became the sidekick. It is more commonly seen the opposite way around when the female was running along-side the male individual. The author, herself, actually breaks a stereotype as well because she grasped the idea of science-fiction, also known as a male-based genre. In fact, L'Engle was inspired by male authors from this exact genre. Consequently, she created her own science-fiction novel, but with a twist. As mentioned above, the author reinforced the idea of gender stereotyping as well because although Mrs.Murry reflected the gender code by being a scientist, she still followed the stereotype without even intending it. This is because due to her husband being taken away, she didn’t have a companion, and during the 1960s, women were choosing to become independent, which led to gaining better control of themselves. In other words, even though Mrs.Murry tells her daughter, 'I’m still very much in love with your father. I miss him quite dreadfully”, she, unintentionally, doesn't have a husband, just like many other women in this decade.

The details in this novel are similar to what standard science fiction novels should contain. The only concern, however, is that the hint of feminism is exceedingly apparent and over-crowding. One can approve of the protagonist being female because that abandons the idea of a classic science-fiction, but with Meg’s mother also having a substantial role within the novel decreases my thoughts on how well this novel is played out. She shouldn’t have been a scientist just like Meg’s father since, during the 1960s, women were beginning to enter the paid workforce.

Madeleine L'Engle’s novel over exemplifies the idea of feminism, but she did not go in the wrong direction. She had a goal, and she executed it exceptionally. She challenged gender roles, but not in a way that was criticizing the opposing gender. Her novel indeed shows her perspective on the definition of masculinity and femininity.